Method and apparatus for transferring files to clients using a peer-to-peer file transfer model and a client-server transfer model

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for delivering a content file to a client over a packet-switched network. The method begins by determining a suitable throughput required to deliver the content file to the client. Next, the throughput available in a peer-to-peer network for delivering the content file to the client is determined. The required throughput is compared to the available throughput. If the available throughput is less than the required throughput, the available throughput is supplemented with additional throughput. The content is then delivered to the client over the packet-switched network using the available throughput of the peer-to-peer network and the additional throughput.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for delivering a content file to a client over a packet-switched network, comprising:
 determining a suitable throughput required to deliver the content file to the client, wherein said determination includes a determination of a delivery method to be employed in connection with the content file, and is selected from the group consisting of a streaming media method or a file downloading method; 
 determining a throughput available in a peer-to-peer network for delivering the content file to the client; 
 comparing the required throughput to the available throughput; 
 supplementing the available throughput with additional throughput, provided by a content delivery network, if the available throughput is less than the required throughput; and 
 delivering the content to the client over the packet-switched network using the available throughput of the peer-to-peer network and additional throughput. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein further additional throughput is provided by a backup server that is employed as a peer in the peer-to-peer network on an as-needed basis. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the backup server is configured to function as a seed client. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein delivery of the content to the client further comprises delivering one portion of the content file over the peer-to-peer network and a remaining portion of the content file over the content delivery network. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the peer-to-peer network operates in accordance with a file transfer protocol selected from the group consisting of BitTorrent, Kazaa, eDonkey, Gnutella, and Direct Connect. 
     
     
       6. A method for delivering a content file to a client over a packet-switched network, comprising:
 determining a suitable throughput required to deliver the content file to the client, wherein said determination includes a determination of a delivery method to be employed in connection with the content file, and is selected from the group consisting of a streaming media method or a file downloading method 
 determining a throughput available in a peer-to-peer network for delivering the content file to the client; 
 comparing the required throughput to the available throughput; 
 delivering the content to the client over the packet-switched network using the available throughput of the peer-to-peer network if the available throughput is at least equal to the required throughput; 
 supplementing the available throughput with additional throughput, provided by a content delivery network, if the available throughput is less than the required throughput; and 
 delivering the content to the client over the packet-switched network using the available throughput of both the peer-to-peer network and additional throughput if the available throughput of the peer-to-peer network is less than the required throughput. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein delivery of the content to the client further comprises delivering one portion of the content file over the peer-to-peer network and a remaining portion of the content file over the content delivery network. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6  wherein the peer-to-peer network operates in accordance with a file transfer protocol selected from the group consisting of BitTorrent, Kazaa, eDonkey, Gnutella, and Direct Connect. 
     
     
       9. A method for delivering a content file to a client over a packet-switched network, comprising:
 determining a suitable throughput required to deliver the content file to the client; 
 determining a throughput available in a peer-to-peer network for delivering the content file to the client, wherein the peer-to-peer network allows users to share content files directly with other users; 
 comparing the required throughput to the available throughput; 
 supplementing the available throughput with additional throughput from a back-up peer server if the available throughput is less than the required throughput; 
 determining a combined throughput available in the peer-to-peer network and the back-up peer server; 
 comparing the required throughput to the combined throughput available; 
 supplementing the available throughput with further additional throughput, provided by a content delivery network, if the available throughput is less than the required throughput, wherein the content delivery network employs a client-server protocol, and is configured such that a central server sends an entire content file to each client that requests the content file, and wherein clients do not communicate with each other over the content delivery network; and 
 delivering the content to the client over the packet-switched network using the available throughput of the peer-to-peer network, the backup peer server, and additional throughput from the content delivery network. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein delivery of the content to the client further comprises delivering one portion of the content file over the peer-to-peer network, one portion over the back-up peer server, and a remaining portion of the content file over the content delivery network. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9  wherein the peer-to-peer network operates in accordance with a file transfer protocol selected from the group consisting of BitTorrent, Kazaa, eDonkey, Gnutella, and Direct Connect. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9  wherein the backup server is configured to function as a seed client. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9  wherein determining the required throughput of the content file includes a determination of a delivery method to be employed in connection with the content file. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9  wherein the delivery method is selected from the group consisting of a streaming media method or a file downloading method.